Undersecretary, Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Republic of South Sudan
Hon. Adeng Andrew Malual Leek is the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare of the Republic of South Sudan. She is a distinguished human rights advocate, peacebuilding practitioner, and governance specialist with over a decade of experience in humanitarian action, development programming, civic engagement, and institutional strengthening.

Throughout her career, Hon. Adeng has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing gender equality, promoting the rights and protection of women and children, strengthening civic participation, and supporting peacebuilding efforts across South Sudan. Her work has focused on empowering vulnerable communities, fostering social cohesion, and advocating for inclusive governance and sustainable development.

Before she was appointed as Undersecretary, she served as Civic Engagement Program Manager with Nonviolent Peaceforce, where she led national and regional initiatives aimed at protecting civilians. Under her leadership, protection and civic engagement programs were successfully implemented in several conflict-affected areas.
Hon. Adeng also served as Executive Director of the South Sudan Women’s Empowerment Network (SSWEN), where she oversaw the implementation of major donor-funded programs addressing gender-based violence, women’s leadership, civic participation, and constitutional awareness. She played a key role in strengthening the capacities of women leaders and parliamentarians and contributed to national dialogue processes that promoted peace, reconciliation, and social justice.
Her professional experience extends beyond South Sudan. She served with the African Union Commission within the Directorate of Internal Audit and has participated in regional peace and governance initiatives under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). She has represented South Sudan in international forums and policy dialogues, engaging with governments, regional institutions, and development partners on issues of human rights, peacebuilding, gender equality, and governance.

In addition to her leadership roles, Hon. Adeng has contributed to research and policy development on women’s empowerment, preventing violent extremism, governance, and social inclusion, supporting institutions such as the HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies and the IGAD Centre of Excellence for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (ICEPCVE).

A recipient of the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, Hon. Adeng holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management from the University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom and a Bachelor’s degree in History, Economics, and Political Science from Christ University, Bangalore, India. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Human Rights at the University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom.

As Undersecretary of the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Hon. Adeng Andrew Malual Leek is committed to advancing policies and programs that promote the rights, dignity, protection, and empowerment of women, children, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable populations, while contributing to a more inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous South Sudan.